General rule
Dividends, etc.
Rents
Mineral, oil, and gas royalties
Copyright royalties
Produced film rents
Use of corporate property by shareholder
Personal service contracts
Estates and trusts
Amounts includible in computing the taxable income of the corporation under part I of subchapter J (sec. 641 and following, relating to estates, trusts, and beneficiaries).
Definitions
Ordinary gross income
Adjusted ordinary gross income
Rents
Mineral royalties, etc.
Interest
Certain excluded rents
From the gross income consisting of compensation described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (3) subtract the amount allowable as deductions for the items described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of subparagraph (A) to the extent allocable, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to such gross income. The amount subtracted under this subparagraph shall not exceed such gross income.
Adjusted income from rents
Adjusted income from mineral, oil, and gas royalties
The term “adjusted income from mineral, oil, and gas royalties” means the gross income from mineral, oil, and gas royalties (including production payments and overriding royalties), reduced by the amount subtracted under paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection in respect of such royalties.
Gross income of insurance companies other than life insurance companies
In the case of an insurance company other than a life insurance company, the term “gross income” as used in this part means the gross income, as defined in section 832(b)(1), increased by the amount of losses incurred, as defined in section 832(b)(5), and the amount of expenses incurred, as defined in section 832(b)(6), and decreased by the amount deductible under section 832(c)(7) (relating to tax-free interest).
Active business computer software royalties
In general
Royalties must be received by corporation actively engaged in computer software business
Royalties must constitute at least 50 percent of income
The requirements of this paragraph are met if the royalties described in paragraph (1) constitute at least 50 percent of the ordinary gross income of the corporation for the taxable year.
Deductions under sections 162 and 174 relating to royalties must equal or exceed 25 percent of ordinary gross income
In general
Deductions allowable under section 162
For purposes of subparagraph (A), a deduction shall not be treated as allowable under section 162 if it is specifically allowable under another section.
Limitation on allowable deductions
Dividends must equal or exceed excess of personal holding company income over 10 percent of ordinary gross income
In general
Computation of personal holding company income
Special rules for affiliated group members
In general
Affiliated group
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “affiliated group” has the meaning given such term by section 1504(a).
Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 186Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(a)74 Stat. 77Pub. L. 87–403, § 3(c)76 Stat. 6Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 225(d)78 Stat. 81Pub. L. 88–484, § 3(a)78 Stat. 598Pub. L. 89–809, title I, § 104(h)(2)80 Stat. 1559Pub. L. 94–455, title II, § 211(a)90 Stat. 1544Pub. L. 94–553, § 105(d)90 Stat. 2599Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 222(e)(6)96 Stat. 480Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title VII, § 712(i)(3)98 Stat. 948Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 645(a)(1)100 Stat. 2289Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1010(f)(5)102 Stat. 3454Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(6)110 Stat. 1887Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6023(9)112 Stat. 825Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 532(c)(2)(E)113 Stat. 1930Pub. L. 108–357, title IV, § 413(c)(8)118 Stat. 1507Pub. L. 109–304, § 17(e)(3)120 Stat. 1708Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 207(a)128 Stat. 4072Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(134)132 Stat. 1190Pub. L. 119–21, title VII, § 70302(b)(8)139 Stat. 192(, ; , (b), , ; , , ; , (k)(2), , , 93; , , ; , title II, § 206(a), (b), , , 1578, 1579; , title XIX, §§ 1901(b)(32)(D), 1906(b)(13)(A), title XXI, § 2106(a), , , 1800, 1834, 1902; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (2), (4), title XVIII, § 1899A(18), , , 2291, 2959; , title VI, § 6279(a), , , 3754; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (135), , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 3(a)(4) and (5) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (a)(1)(E), is classified to section 78c(a)(4) and (5) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Amendments
Pub. L. 119–212025—Subsec. (d)(4)(A)(i). inserted “174A,” after “174,”.
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(a)(134)2018—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii). , substituted “section 563(c)” for “section 563(d)”.
Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(a)(135)Subsec. (d)(5)(A)(ii). , substituted “section 563(c)” for “section 563(d)”.
Pub. L. 113–2952014—Subsec. (a)(1)(C) to (E). added subpar. (C) and redesignated former subpars. (C) and (D) as (D) and (E), respectively.
Pub. L. 109–3042006—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). substituted “chapter 533 or 535 of title 46, United States Code” for “section 511 or 607 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 U.S.C. App. 1161 or 1177)”.
Pub. L. 108–3572004—Subsec. (b)(1). inserted “and” at end of subpar. (A), substituted a period for “, and” at end of subpar. (B), and struck out subpar. (C) which read as follows: “in the case of a foreign corporation all of the outstanding stock of which during the last half of the taxable year is owned by nonresident alien individuals (whether directly or indirectly through foreign estates, foreign trusts, foreign partnerships, or other foreign corporations), all items of income which would, but for this subparagraph, constitute personal holding company income under any paragraph of subsection (a) other than paragraph (7) thereof:”.
Pub. L. 106–1701999—Subsec. (a)(1)(D)(i). substituted “1221(a)(1)” for “1221(1)”.
Pub. L. 105–2061998—Subsec. (d)(5)(A)(ii). substituted “section 563(d)” for “section 563(c)”.
Pub. L. 104–1881996—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii). substituted “563(d)” for “563(c)”.
Pub. L. 100–647, § 6279(a)1988—Subsec. (a)(1)(D). , added subpar. (D).
Pub. L. 100–647, § 1010(f)(5)Subsec. (c). , substituted “other than life insurance companies” for “other than life or mutual” in heading and “other than a life insurance company” for “other than life or mutual” in text.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1899A(18)1986—Subsec. (a)(1)(B). , substituted “46 U.S.C. App.” for “46 U.S.C.”.
Pub. L. 99–514, § 645(a)(1)Subsec. (a)(1)(C). , added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 99–514, § 645(a)(4)(A)Subsec. (a)(4). , inserted “This paragraph shall not apply to active business computer software royalties.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 645(a)(4)(B)Subsec. (b)(3)(E). , added subpar. (E).
Pub. L. 99–514, § 645(a)(2)Subsec. (d). , added subsec. (d).
Pub. L. 98–3691984—Subsec. (a)(1)(C). struck out subpar. (C) providing for nonapplication of par. (1) to dividends to which section 302(b)(4) would apply if the corporation were an individual.
Pub. L. 97–2481982—(a)(1)(C). added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1901(b)(32)(D)46 U.S.C. 11611976—Subsec. (a)(1). , inserted in subpar. (B) “( or 1177)” after “Merchant Marine Act, 1936”, and struck out subpar. (C) relating to a dividend distribution of divested stock.
Pub. L. 94–553Subsec. (a)(4). struck out “(other than by reason of section 2 or 6 thereof)” after “title 17 of the United States Code”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 211(a)Subsec. (a)(5)(B). , inserted “In the case of a producer who actually participates in the production of the film, such term includes an interest in the proceeds or profits from the film, but only to the extent such interest is attributable to such active participation”.
Pub. L. 94–455, § 2106(a)Subsec. (a)(6). , redesignated existing provisions as subpars. (A), (B), and (C) and, as redesignated, inserted in subpar. (A) “tangible” after “right to use” and in subpar. (C) inserted exclusions from income embodied in cl. (ii).
Pub. L. 94–455, § 1906(b)(13)(A)Subsec. (b)(2)(A), (B), (D). , struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Pub. L. 89–809, § 206(b)(1)1966—Subsec. (a)(2). , struck out provision that royalties received for the use of, or for the privilege of using, a patent, invention, model, or design, secret formula, process, or other similar property right be treated as rent if such property right is also used by the corporation receiving such royalties in the manufacture or production of tangible personal property held for lease to customers and if the amount constituting rent from such leases to customers meets the requirement of subparagraph (A).
Pub. L. 89–809, § 104(h)(2)Subsec. (b)(1)(C). , added subpar. (C).
Pub. L. 89–809, § 206(b)(2)Subsec. (b)(2)(D). , added subpar. (D).
Pub. L. 89–809, § 206(a)Subsec. (b)(3). , struck out “amounts constituting personal holding company income under subsection (a)(6), nor copyright royalties (as defined in subsection (a)(4)), nor produced film rents (as defined in subsection (a)(5)(B)).” after “but does not include”, and added subpars. (A) to (D).
Pub. L. 88–272, § 225(d)1964—Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally, and among other changes, substituted “adjusted ordinary gross income” for “gross income”, provided, relative to rental income, that in addition to the 50-percent test of par. (2)(A), now applied on the basis of adjusted income from rents and adjusted ordinary gross income, a second test for exclusion shall be whether the sum on the dividends paid during the taxable year, the dividends paid on the last day of the year, and the consent dividends for the taxable year, equals or exceeds the amount by which the personal holding company income for the year exceeds 10 percent of the ordinary gross income, relative to mineral, oil, and gas royalties, that in addition to the 50-percent test of par. (3)(A), now applied on the basis of adjusted ordinary gross income, and the 15-percent test of par. (3)(C), from which test have been excluded deductions “specifically allowable under sections other than section 162” and is also now applied on the basis of adjusted gross income, the royalties shall be excluded if the personal holding company income for the taxable year is not more than 10 percent of the ordinary gross income, relative to copyright royalties, retained the 50-percent test as in par. (4)(A), making it applicable to ordinary gross income, included in the computation of the income for the taxable year the adjusted income from rents and the adjusted income from mineral, oil, and gas royalties, excluded from the sum of deductions allocable to royalties, deductions specifically allowable under sections other than 162, and changed the requirement that deductions constitute 50 percent or more of gross income to provide that they must equal 25 percent of ordinary gross income reduced by royalties paid and by depreciation deductions with respect to copyrights, relative to produced film rents, that they be treated on their own basis and not as rentals, and defined “produced film rents”, relative to use of corporation property by shareholders, that personal holding company income includes copyright royalties and the adjusted income from mineral, oil, and gas royalties, eliminated gains from the sale or other disposition of any interest in an estate or trust, from the sale or exchange of stock or securities, and from futures transactions in any commodity, and also definition of “rents”. See subsec. (b)(3).
Pub. L. 88–484Subsec. (a)(2). inserted sentence requiring royalties received for the use of, or for the privilege of using, a patent, invention, model, or design (whether or not patented), secret formula or process, or any other similar property right to be treated as rent, if such property right is also used by the corporation receiving such royalties in the manufacture or production of tangible personal property held for lease to customers, and if the amount (computed without regard to this sentence) constituting rent from such leases to customers meets the requirements of subparagraph (A).
Pub. L. 88–272, § 225(d)Subsec. (b). , added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b), which provided that gross income and personal holding company income determined with respect to transactions relating to gains from stock and security transactions, and with respect to transactions relating to gains from commodity transactions, should include only the excess of gains over losses from such transactions, was struck out.
Pub. L. 88–272, § 225(k)(2)Subsec. (d). , struck out subsec. (d) which related to special adjustment on disposition of antitrust stock received as a dividend.
Pub. L. 87–4031962—Subsec. (a)(1). prescribed conditions making inapplicable the provisions of the paragraph to dividend distribution of divested stock.
Pub. L. 87–403Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).
Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(b)(1)1960—Subsec. (a)(1). , excluded copyright royalties.
Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(b)(2)Subsec. (a)(6). , inserted sentence providing that copyright royalties constitute personal holding company income.
Pub. L. 86–435, § 1(a)Subsec. (a)(9). , added par. (9).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
Pub. L. 119–21Pub. L. 119–21section 174A of this titleAmendment by applicable to amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after , subject to election for retroactive application by certain small businesses and election to deduct certain unamortized amounts paid or incurred in taxable years beginning before , see section 70302(e), (f) of , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295, div. B, title II, § 207(b)128 Stat. 4072
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–357section 413(d)(1) of Pub. L. 108–357section 1 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after , and to taxable years of United States shareholders with or within which such taxable years of foreign corporations end, see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2004 Amendments note under .
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Pub. L. 106–170section 532(d) of Pub. L. 106–170section 170 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any instrument held, acquired, or entered into, any transaction entered into, and supplies held or acquired on or after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
section 1010(f)(5) of Pub. L. 100–647Pub. L. 99–514section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6279(b)102 Stat. 3754
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 645(e)100 Stat. 2292
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–369Pub. L. 97–248section 715 of Pub. L. 98–369section 31 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Pub. L. 97–248section 222(f) of Pub. L. 97–248section 302 of this titleAmendment by applicable to distributions after , with exceptions for certain partial liquidations, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Pub. L. 94–553section 102 of Pub. L. 94–553section 101 of Title 17Amendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date note preceding , Copyrights.
Pub. L. 94–455, title II, § 211(b)90 Stat. 1545
section 1901(b)(32)(D) of Pub. L. 94–455section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455section 2 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after , see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 94–455, title XXI, § 2106(b)90 Stat. 1903
Effective Date of 1966 Amendment
section 104(h)(2) of Pub. L. 89–809section 104(n) of Pub. L. 89–809section 11 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after , see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 89–809, title II, § 206(c)80 Stat. 1579
Effective Date of 1964 Amendment
Pub. L. 88–484, § 3(b)78 Stat. 598
Pub. L. 88–272lPub. L. 88–272section 316 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years beginning after , see section 225() of , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1962 Amendment
Pub. L. 87–403section 3(g) of Pub. L. 87–403section 312 of this titleAmendment by applicable only with respect to distributions made after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1960 Amendment
Pub. L. 86–435, § 274 Stat. 78
Treatment of Certain Bank Holding Companies
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, § 6280102 Stat. 3754
General Rule .—
Limitation $3,000,000 .—
Qualified Bank Holding Company .—
Percent Owned Bank 25-.—
Special Rules for Broker-Dealers, Royalties Received by Qualified Taxpayer, and Treatment of Active Business Computer Royalties for S Corporation Purposes
Pub. L. 99–514, title VI, § 645(b)100 Stat. 2292
Special Rules for Broker-Dealers .—
Special Rule for Royalties Received by Qualified Taxpayer.—
In general .—
Qualified taxpayer .—
Qualified royalty .—
Special Rule for Treatment of Active Business Computer Royalties for S Corporation Purposes .—
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
Pub. L. 99–514section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514section 401 of this titleFor provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after , see , as amended, set out as a note under .